Page:Adams - A Child of the Age.djvu/195

183 being, à coup sûr, what monsieur required. (All the English gentlemen had the habit of using it, she explained to the puzzled host beside her.)

When they had gone away:

'I thought you knew French,' said Rosy, a little piteously, 'What did she bring that scrubbing-brush up for?'

Weary and dreary as I was, I exploded into laughter at this, and kept on at it till I fell exhausted backward on to the bed, and lay. From there, having rested a little, while Rosy was trying to wash her face in the bowl that did duty for a basin:

'I was only trying,' I said, 'to make them understand that I should like to have a tub in the morning.'

'I believe the whole hotel was on the stairs listening^ said Rosy, rather disgustedly. I went off into laughter again.

'I don't see what there's to laugh at,' she said: which made me continue even more than before, she drying her face and hands at the window, with dignity.

I suddenly stopped.

'It will be rather fun,' I said, 'seeing us buying new clothes to-morrow! You can't expect me to do that for you, you know!' 'I shan't,' said she.

'Very well,' I answered philosophically, 'then …' She was crying. I jumped up and came to her.

'Ah child what's the matter?' I said, taking her in my arms; 'what is the matter?'

'It's very unkind of you,' she sobbed, 'to go on like that at me, and you know it is.'

'Indeed,' I said, 'I'm very sorry. I didn't think you minded my fun. I was only joking. … There, there now! It 's all right. Give us a kiss, and let's be friends again.' 'I'm tired,' she said, wiping her eyes: 'and hungry.'

I continued chattering to her, till I at last succeeded in making her cheerful, and in quite a happy humour we went down together into the sitting-room. But, her hunger somewhat appeased by shrimps and fried sand-eels, the weariness once more began to acquire the ascendant. Before we were half through the